six ways to experience God during lent

As Easter approaches it’s important to prepare our hearts for the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  At Neel Road we are calling it “Forty Days of Prayer.”  Here are five simple ways to experience God during this time.

1. Spend time praying alone. This seems obvious, yet I have my doubts about how often people spend time intentionally praying alone as Jesus commanded, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6) In fact, one of the rewards is the experience of being alone with God in prayer!

2. Practice coffee shop intercessory prayer. My second office is a local coffee shop.  I go there to enjoy coffee and to build relationships with people I otherwise would never know.  Wherever you spend time away from home – coffee shop, restaurant, gym – practice praying for those people who you see regularly. (They don’t even have to know you’re praying for them!)

3. Skip a meal or two. Fasting is an ancient tradition. Prayer and fasting go hand in hand. Giving up something physical is a way for us to remember that our true hunger is a spiritual hunger for God in our lives.

4. Meditate on God’s Word. Daily scripture reading should be for believers what brushing your teeth is for everybody!  God’s Word has the power to change lives! Meditating on God’s Word, especially during Lent, is a powerful way to experience God’s love. I recommend reading the Passion narratives (Jesus’ crucifixion).

5. Invite the Holy Spirit into your daily routine. The forty days of Lent are a great time to change your routine and allow God’s Spirit to work in and through your life. Invite the Spirit to guide you every step of the way everyday.  He may lead you where you least expect it!

6. Pray for your relationships with people you don’t like. Most of us can think of at least one person who we either don’t like, don’t get along with very well, or who have hurt us in some way.  In John 13 Jesus commands us to “love another.”  Not to “love every other” or even “try to love another!”  If Christ was willing to die for us even as ungodly sinners, the very least we can do is honor his sacrifice by loving others.  Pray for your relationships with people you don’t like and your relationship with them will change.

Lent is one of my favorite seasons of the year because it is a time of reflection, confession and meditation.  The Bible says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

The “forty days” leading up to Easter is one of the best times to draw near to and experience God in a way that is up close and personal.  I hope that you will draw near to him in this holy season. . . and that your life will be changed as you experience the living and loving God!